Birds diurnal

Whooping Motmot

Momotus subrufescens

With its brilliant blue crown and iconic racket-tipped tail, the Whooping Motmot is a crown jewel of the tropical backyard. Watch for its unique pendulum tail-swing as it keeps a watchful eye over its forest domain.

3 Sightings

1 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

38–43 cm (15–17 inches) in length; 100–150g (3.5–5.3 oz) in weight

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Colors

Luminous green back and wings; bright blue-fringed black crown; black mask; warm cinnamon-rufous underparts; long blue tail feathers with bare shafts and racket-shaped tips

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Key Features

Distinctive racket-shaped tail tips
Bright blue 'diadem' crown with a black center
Black 'bandit' mask across the eyes
Pendulum-like tail swinging behavior

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM

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Season Year-round; most vocal during nesting from March to July

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Diet Omnivorous; feeds on large insects (beetles, cicadas), small vertebrates like lizards and frogs, and a variety of tropical fruits.

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Habitat Tropical dry forests, humid forest edges, shaded coffee plantations, and mature suburban gardens with dense canopy cover.

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Behavior

The Whooping Motmot is a bird of quiet contemplation and sudden, explosive action. It is famous for its 'pendulum display,' where it rhythmically swings its long tail from side to side like a clock. This isn't just for show; it is often a signal to potential predators that the motmot has spotted them, discouraging a surprise attack. While they are often solitary, they can be found in pairs during the breeding season, communicating with low-frequency 'whoop-whoop' calls that can travel long distances through dense foliage.

These birds are 'perch-and-sally' hunters, meaning they spend long periods sitting perfectly still on a shaded branch, scanning the ground or air for movement. Despite their bright colors, they can be surprisingly difficult to spot until they move. In suburban environments, they are known to be somewhat tolerant of humans, provided they have access to thick garden cover and high perches where they feel secure.

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Camera Tips

To capture the stunning Whooping Motmot on camera, focus on their favorite 'sentinel' perches. These birds are creatures of habit and will often return to the same horizontal branch, usually 5 to 12 feet above the ground, to scan for prey. Position your camera at eye level with these branches in a shaded part of the garden. Because they prefer low-light forest understories, ensure your camera has a high-quality sensor for low-light conditions or set your AI trigger to its highest sensitivity to catch them before they fly off.

Water is a powerful lure for motmots. A pedestal birdbath or a stone basin with a small solar fountain or dripper is irresistible to them, especially in the afternoon. Set your camera 6 to 9 feet away from the water source at a 45-degree angle. This angle allows the camera to capture the full length of the bird, including those iconic racket-tipped tail feathers, which can be nearly a foot long. If you use a trail camera, ensure the 'trigger speed' is fast, as they can drop from a perch to the ground and back in a split second.

If you are lucky enough to have an earthen bank or a steep slope on your property, keep an eye out for 2-3 inch wide holes. These may be motmot nesting burrows. Positioning a camera nearby (at a respectful distance of at least 15 feet to avoid disturbance) can provide incredible footage of the birds carrying large insects or small lizards back to their young. For the best color reproduction, try to angle the camera so the bird is side-lit; direct midday sun can wash out the subtle blues and greens of their plumage.

Lastly, pay attention to the 'pendulum' behavior. If your camera has a video mode, use it instead of still photos. The rhythmic wagging of the tail is the Whooping Motmot's most charismatic trait and is far more impressive in motion. Set your video clips to at least 15-20 seconds to ensure you capture the full cycle of the tail swing and the bird's distinctive 'whoop' vocalization if your camera records audio.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Whooping Motmot.

Lesson's Motmot

Lesson's Motmot has a more greenish breast and a harsher, more croaking call compared to the rufous-bellied Whooping Motmot.

Amazonian Motmot

The Amazonian Motmot is found further south and east and has a different pattern of blue on its crown.

Rufous Motmot

Much larger with an almost entirely rufous body and lacks the distinct blue diadem crown of the Momotus genus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Whooping Motmots are most active during the early morning hours and late afternoon. They prefer the cooler, softer light of dawn and dusk for foraging, often resting in deep shade during the heat of the day.

The best way to attract them is by providing a tiered habitat with plenty of shade and fruit-bearing trees. A quiet water feature like a dripper or birdbath in a secluded area is also a very effective lure for this species.

They have a varied diet that includes large insects like cicadas and grasshoppers, small lizards, frogs, and even small birds. They also regularly eat fruits and berries from native tropical trees.

Yes, they are quite adaptable and are frequently found in leafy suburban neighborhoods, parks, and shaded plantations, provided there is enough canopy cover and minimal direct disturbance.

The Whooping Motmot (Momotus subrufescens) has much more extensive cinnamon-red coloring on its belly and chest, whereas the Lesson's Motmot has a more greenish-olive underbelly. Their calls are also distinct, with the Whooping Motmot sounding more resonant.

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